Factors associated with improvement in disability-adjusted life years in patients with HIV/AIDS.
BACKGROUND
The epidemic of HIV/AIDS and treatments that have emerged to alleviate, have brought about a shift in the burden of disease from death to quality of life/disability. The aim was to determine which factors are associated with improvements in the level of health of male and female patients with HIV/AIDS in Andalusia, in terms of disability-adjusted life years.


METHODS
Descriptive study based on a sample group of 8800 people on the Andalusian AIDS register between 1983 and 2004.


METHODS
Life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lost due to disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY).


METHODS
vital state, sex, age at the time of diagnosis, age at the time of death, transmission category, province of residence, AIDS-indicator disease and the period of diagnosis. A bivariate analysis was carried out to find out if the health level variables changed in accordance with the independent variables. Using the independent variables which had a statistically significant link with the level of health variables, a multivariate linear regression model, disaggregated by gender, was constructed.


RESULTS
Amongst the women, we found a model which explained the level of health of 64.9%: a link was found between a higher level of health (lower DALYs) and not intravenous drug use, the province of residence, being diagnosed during the HAART era and older age at the time of diagnosis. Amongst the men, we found a model which explained the level of health of 64.4%: a link was found between a higher level of health (lower DALYs) and intravenous drug use, the province of residence, being diagnosed during the HAART era and older age at the time of diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
A higher level of health (lower DALY) amongst both men and women was found to be linked to not be intravenous drug user, the province of residence, being diagnosed during the HAART era and older age at the time of diagnosis.
Bermudez-Tamayo
Clara
C
Andalusian School of Public Health, Granada, Spain. clara.bermudez.easp@juntadeandalucia.es
Martin
Jose Jesus Martin
JJ
Ruiz-Pérez
Isabel
I
Lima
Antonio Olry de Labry
AO
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D020276:HIV Long-Term Survivors; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012042:Registries; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult